Kids of transgenders, sex workers don’t need father’s name for school admissions in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Transgenders and those in the flesh trade will find it easier to educate their children. In order to make the admission process hassle-free for kids from such sections of the society, the state government has instructed schools not to insist on father's name and address proof for such children during school admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Last week, a government resolution to this effect was issued by the school education department.

"Under the RTE Act, it is mandatory for all private educational institutes to give admission to the children of sex workers and transgenders as these sections of society are also included in the mandatory 25% reservation for the poor and backward class children," said a senior government official.

School education minister Rajendra Darda said, "Every one in society has the right to get education. The education department is committed to the effective implementation of the RTE. Accordingly, the GR has been issued by the department for the marginalized sections of society."

Seema Sayyed, manager, Aastha Parivar, a federation of sex workers working in Mumbai and Thane, welcomed the government's initiative. "Sex workers don't get the benefit of any government scheme as in most of the cases, they do not have any address proof. Now with the DF government issuing a GR, which categorically states that schools should not insist on father's name and address proof, it will benefit a large number of our community members," Seema Sayyed added.

However, gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi said that by issuing the GR, the government's responsibility does not end. "The administration will have to ensure that kids from these sections of society get proper treatment in educational institutes," Kavi added.